New York Giants News & Notes: Updates on Jacobs, Prince and Matt Dodge(?) Edition

Good morning fellow Giants fans. I had to throw some humor into the headline this morning because a reporter asked special teams coach Tom Quinn if he keeps in touch with former Giants' punter Matt Dodge, and that struck me as kind of funny. More on that in a bit because I know you're all chomping at said bit wanting to know the answer to that burning question.

Oh, but first, RB Ahmad Bradshaw was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Buffalo--26 carries for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns. The rushing attempts and TDs were career highs, and all of it was both good for the Giants and good for you fantasy owners who hold Bradshaw.

Meanwhile, all of the coordinators, as well as coach Coughlin and several players answered questions yesterday, so let's review some of that before we see what else is floating around the Web about Big Blue.....

Coach Coughlin on the timing of the bye: "The bye is like anything else in this business. It is there. And whatever your thoughts are about game three, it is there; game six, it’s there; or game eight, it is there. The ideal time for everyone is absolutely midpoint of the season but you take it when it is there and do the best you can with it."

TC was also asked about why he challenged the Manningham incompletion in the end zone on Sunday against Buffalo. "The idea was that the ball was in the end zone and the ball was on his stomach while he was on his back on the floor of the end zone. At that point in time, he had control of it. Upstairs, they were asking is it or isn’t it. Why would I let a play like that go by without something?"

I have to admit, when I saw that play happening, I was screaming at the TV, knowing full well the refs would not overturn that call. I haven't looked back at the game yet, but I can understand wanting to throw a hail Mary there by challenging, just in case. I also remember the defender coming real close to intercepting the ball by taking it away from Manningham. But hey, it's history and did not ultimately affect the game's outcome.

Running back Brandon Jacobs seemed both happy he's having time to recover, and not happy about being out of uniform for games." It will never get easier to sit out a game," he said. "You have your team out there fighting and scratching as hard as they can fight and scratch for 60 minutes and you want to be out there helping." Then Jacobs added something about not coming back too soon: "Just like I knew then that I wasn’t fully ready but I still went out there and tried to help the team the best that I could. It only hurt me in the end. I can bet my bottom dollar that it won’t happen again."

He also mentioned his MRI was negative and that the swelling has gone down in the knee.

OC Kevin Gilbride said that tight end Jake Ballard is the most surprising player on offense thus far. "I thought he would be a good blocker," said Gilbride. "You saw a big strong kid and in the time that he was with us, could hold his own with the big defensive ends and outside linebackers we were going to face. He has done that. I thought he would catch the ball well. I didn’t see a guy that would be as effective as he has been running routes down the field but he has done a nice job."

I was trying to think of who Ballard reminded me of, and I came up with this--he's a Kevin Boss with better hands. He also drags defenders a la Mark Bavaro. I was also trying to think of ways to avoid tackling him if I was playing safety. Obviously I won't have to actually apply that thinking, but Ballard sure is a load to bring down, and I'm glad he's on our team.

CB Prince Amukamara on wanting to make an impact like fellow rookies: :"For sure and that makes my blood boil a little bit because I know I can make an impact on this team. I can’t control that now but as soon as I am ready to go, I am going to give it all I’ve got."

I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait to see this kid in action, especially with how well Corey Webster is playing.

And then there was this. The first question asked of special teams coordinator Tom Quinn was about whether he has stayed in touch with Matt Dodge. "I have not talked to him in the last couple of weeks, probably three weeks, but we’re friendly. I know Lawrence [Tynes] and Steve [Weatherford], they’re all pretty much a tight knit group. All of the specialists, whether they get cut or kept, they all stay in touch with each other"

For the record, Quinn was also asked how he feels about returners Devin Thomas and Aaron Ross, and he thinks both, as well as the blocking on returns, can improve.

Giants guard Chris Snee passes concussion tests | NJ.com
Giants right guard Chris Snee passed his concussion tests today and has been cleared to return to practice, according to someone informed of the results of the tests. The person requested anonymity because all injury information is supposed to come from coach Tom Coughlin.

Tom Coughlin knows first-place NY Giants have very difficult remaining schedule after bye, Dolphins
After a Week 7 bye, the Giants will welcome the Miami Dolphins into MetLife Stadium and then say goodbye to the easy part of their schedule. A team that has limped to the finish line its last two seasons will face crucial tests in trying to hang on to the NFC East lead.

So you guys know, the Patriots loom on November 6, followed by the 49ers, Eagles and Saints. Yikes.

The NFC East Lacks a Clear Pecking Order - WSJ.com
Where's the patsy? Where's the—ahem, Vince Young—Dream Team? Who's the favorite and how, as they head into their bye week, do the now NFC East-leading Giants fit in?

Family and team personnel changes have NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning playing better football
There is Eli Manning the quarterback, and there is Eli Manning the father. And for the next few days, the quarterback will not be around. The Giants wrapped up their bye week workouts with a practice Tuesday, and after that, Manning prepared to shut things down. Until Big Blue resumes practices on Monday, the quarterback plans to be nothing but a father, spending nearly all his time with his wife Abby and their six-month-old daughter, Ava Frances.

Yankee, MetLife Stadiums Interested in Big East Title Game - Businessweek
Yankee and MetLife stadiums would be interested in hosting the Big East Conference’s proposed football championship game once the college league expands to 12 members.

Happy hump day, everyone, and I will leave you with this--it sure feels good to be 4-2 and in first place in the NFC East as we have this Sunday off. I know I speak for many of you as well when I say that I never look forward to the week our team doesn't play, because it feels sort of empty. However, I am looking forward to enjoying Sunday Ticket. How about you?